The commonly used name for Macrotis lagotis, Bilby, is a word originating from the Yuwaalaraay Aboriginal language of northern New South Wales, meaning long-nosed rat. It is known as Dalgyte in Western Australia by the Noongar people.
Prior to European settlement there were two types of bilbies, the Grater bilby, and the Lesser bilby. The main difference between the two was their size, lesser bilbies being smaller than the greater bilbies. The lesser bilby is thought to have gone extinct in the 1950’s. Like its larger relative, the introduction of European predators and land clearing for farming is believed to be the reason for the lesser bilby going extinct.
The greater bilby wild population is categorised as vulnerable. In recent years the greater bilby has been the subject of an intense breeding program to raise the wild population’s numbers, while the Bilby's greatest threat, the cat is undergoing culling and baiting programs.
